“We decided we needed an edge,” said club president Trudy Coade. “A monster flower garden, installed at the last minute, should be impressive to the judges.”

When informed of this development, Spence Jonas, a member of the City of Northfield Park & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB), was not pleased. “Bridge Square is a city park, so this should have gone through the PRAB for approval. Downtown residents, especially those living on Bridge Square, should also have been consulted.”

Bardwell deMalicenon, downtown resident and building owner, agreed. “More flower gardens tend to attract more citizens who just loiter more in what is essentially my front yard. The city should be enforcing its loitering ordinance, not allowing fringe groups like the Garden Club to undermine it.”

Coade also wanted to convert the Council chambers to a flower garden hothouse but “the CIP Nazis wouldn’t let us get on their list at this late date.”